If you’re an intermediate skier, you may be looking for more challenging pistes now you don’t have to stick to the easy ones. Many French ski resorts offer intermediate skiers excellent slopes to pick up some speed and challenge their skills. But where should you go? Here is our list of the top 10 best ski resorts in France for intermediate skiers. We have chosen them for their excellent terrain, amenities, and all the unique touches that make each location special.
What Makes A Ski Resort Good For Intermediates
Intermediate skiers and snowboarders need a resort with a good mix of blue and red runs. These will keep you entertained, help you progress, and allow you to explore further than when you first started out.
Blue runs help boost confidence, while red runs provide a rewarding challenge that pushes your skiing ability further. It won’t be long before you feel confident to push yourself a bit more, so you should look for resorts with a few accessible black runs and off-piste areas.
You may also want to work on your freestyle. So, heading to a resort with snow parks will allow you to try jumps or develop technical skills in a fun environment.
Our Top 10 Best ski resorts in France for Intermediate Skiers
We’ve chosen these ski resorts based on the above mentioned things with a few more elements that make them even better.
1. Avoriaz
Avoriaz has much to offer the intermediate skier. Firstly, it is known as the snowiest ski resort in France, so you have a good chance of enjoying good conditions during your visit. But it is also one of the ski resorts that make up the Portes du Soleil, the world’s largest ski area. This means you have 650km of marked slopes to enjoy on both sides of the French-Swiss border. With so many pistes, you’ll never run out of fun intermediate blues and reds.
The Lindarets bowl, just below the main part of Avoriaz, is particularly popular. Here, you can enjoy a network of blue and red runs like Choucas and Combe à Floret. These tree-lined pistes are perfect for practising your carving turns and enjoying the scenery. You may also want to head up to the ridge of Chavanette.
This area has some fantastic intermediate slopes. For those seeking a bit more of a day out, try “the circuit. This loop takes you from Avoriaz to Chatel and through all the Swiss resorts of the Portes du Soleil. Set off early to ensure you can get around before the lifts close.
Avoriaz is also incredibly unique. It is a car-free, high-altitude village, which means you can be on snow as soon as you step foot out of your front door. But the ski-in/ski-out nature of Avoriaz isn’t limited to your accommodation. You can ski right up to bars and restaurants whenever you feel like it.
2. Les Arcs
Les Arcs is often regarded as one of the top 10 best ski resorts in France for intermediates, and it’s not hard to see why. The area comprises several villages, each providing access to fantastic blue and red runs. Intermediate skiers will particularly love the wide, sweeping runs above Arc 1800 and Arc 2000, which offer perfect gradients for fast carving.
If you feel like pushing yourself, the black pistes from the top of the scenic Aiguille Rouge. These offer a challenging yet rewarding charge all the way down to Arc 2000 or Arc 1950. After a rewarding day, you can relax in the many bars and restaurants found across the resort.
3. La Plagne
La Plagne, part of the expansive Paradiski area, has many options for intermediates within its 225 km of marked runs. Some favourites include the steeper blues like Mira, which has the perfect gradient to build up some speed, dropping you from La Grande Rochette. But if you fancy taking it up a notch, head to the long red pistes into Champagny.
Visitors to La Plagne love how its villages provide comfortable ski-in/ski-out accommodations with easy access to the slopes. There are also some great wellness centres and restaurants, like the excellent “Le Chalet des Verdons Sud,” to cap off a perfect day.
4. Courchevel
Courchevel is known to be among the most glamorous ski resorts in the world. But it is also one of the 10 best ski resorts in France for intermediates. One of the reasons for this is that it is in the Three Valleys, providing visitors with 600km of slopes to enjoy. You’ll find many blue and red runs within this vast ski area, providing a perfect playground for those looking to improve.
One of the favourites for intermediate skiers is the “Combe de la Saulire.” You may want to break up this incredibly long red run into sections. But, on a clear day, you can take in the fantastic views of Mont Blanc while catching your breath. Once at the bottom, you can head back up the Saulire cable car to do it again or continue down to Courchevel 1850 for après-ski.
People who like the finer things in life will enjoy Courchevel’s upscale atmosphere, complete with Michelin-starred dining and high-end hotels like Hotel Barrière les Neiges. The village ambience is lively, with designer shops, top-notch après-ski spots, and some of the finest French cuisine.
5. Méribel
Méribel is also located in the Three Valleys, so staying here means skiing the same intermediate-friendly runs as those in Courchevel. The local slopes of Méribel mean you have easy access to wide, impeccably groomed red runs, ideal for intermediates. In fact, seventy-one per cent of the slopes are designated for intermediate skiers and snowboarders. A great example of one of these slopes is Chapelets. This red run sits above Courchevel Moriond and is often quiet, even during peak weeks. It starts off relatively steep but mellows out quickly and offers incredible views of the Dent du Villard mountain range.
Méribel’s village is full of character, with charming wooden chalets and top-class dining options. You can expect a range of luxury accommodation and several spas for post-ski relaxation. For après-ski, there’s nowhere quite like La Folie Douce, known for turning a ski afternoon into a slopeside party.
6. Val Thorens
Val Thorens, which is also in the Three Valleys and the highest ski resort in Europe, offers excellent intermediate skiing. It has many blue and red runs that seem to stretch on forever. Generally speaking, the more challenging runs are towards the top of the mountain, with the easier ones closer to the resort. One of the favourite intermediate runs for locals and visitors has to be the Pluviomètre. This pistes starts at the top of the 3 Valleys chair and finishes at the bottom station. However, if you fancy something a little steeper, try the long Col de l’Audzin red off the Cime de Caron and those from the Glacier de Péclet, which are great for racking up the vertical.
The high-altitude ski resort of Val Thorens has a lively atmosphere thanks to a vibrant après-ski scene. But it is also home to numerous high-end hotels and excellent dining options. After a day on the slopes, spend some time at the Spa by L’Occitane for a bit of luxury.
7. Tignes
Tignes‘ ski area connects with Val d’Isère, creating an extensive ski area. Therefore, there are many slopes suitable for intermediate skiers and snowboarders to enjoy. For example, head to the top of the Aiguille Percee. From here, you can charge down a quiet blue run. Alternatively, you may want to warm your legs up on Palafour, the perfect run for intermediates who want to get re-acclimated with the slopes at the start of a ski holiday. This piste is nice and long, with plenty of fun jibbing spots off the side to make it even more entertaining.
Due to its high base altitude of 1,810 m that stretches up to 3,653 m at the Grande Motte Glacier, Tignes is known for its high-altitude snow reliability. Therefore, you’ll have excellent snow conditions almost any time you visit. Accommodation options range from modern apartments to luxury hotels, and the resort has a vibrant bar scene that keeps evenings interesting after a day of skiing.
8. Val d’Isère
Connected to Tignes via its slopes and lifts, Val d’Isère is famous for being part of one of France’s most extensive ski areas. This resort offers fantastic opportunities for intermediates. You’ll find most of the easy, intermediate slopes higher up, with more gentle runs in the Fornet area or beneath the Borsat chair on Bellevarde. However, check out the superb “OK” downhill red run from Bellevarde to La Daille to build up some speed. Also, the long Laisinant red from Solaise to Le Laisinant and the red from the top of the glacier to the bottom of the Cascade chair are worth blasting down.
Val d’Isere is well known for its excellent village. Its charming buildings are a refreshing change from the concrete high-rise buildings of some purpose-built ski resorts. The après-ski scene is vibrant, with well-known bars like La Folie Douce, Le Petit Danois, and La Baroque. Val d’Isere also has several five-star hotels and Michelin-starred restaurants, making it easy to experience the finer side of alpine living while perfecting your skiing skills.
9. La Rosière
La Rosière is undoubtedly one of the best ski resorts in France for intermediates. People often overlook it without realising it is connected to the Italian resort of La Thuile, offering unique cross-border skiing opportunities for those looking to venture further.
The ski area has many blue and red pistes to explore. For example, the slopes above Les Eucherts are ideal for intermediate skiers, with various wide, rolling blues. But, if you want to take it to the next level, head to the red pistes of Dahu and Fort. These will test your skills with a fantastic view over the valley. When you cross the border to La Thuille, make sure you ski the San Bernardo red run, which snakes its way back to La Rosière.
10. Megève
Megève is a classic resort offering a slightly different experience from some of the more modern French ski areas. Its charm lies in its picturesque village, horse drawn carriages and cobblestone streets lined with high-end boutiques. It also has beautifully groomed pistes, which are perfect for intermediate skiers.
Intermediate skiers love the wide selection of blue and red runs in Megève’s ski area. Excellent examples include the wide, rolling blues pistes, the Princesse and the Etoile. Locals often say that the best snow lies on Mont Joly, and some of the best views while skiing are at the Grande Epaule. If you want more of a challenge, try your hand at the Super Megeve run, which is an easy black that is sure to boost confidence.
It’s worth noting that the grading system in Megeve is slightly more forgiving than that in other French resorts, making it an excellent choice for those looking to progress their skiing skills.
Final Thoughts On The Top 10 Best Ski Resorts In France for Intermediate Skiers
France truly offers some of the best ski resorts in the world for intermediate skiers. Each of these ten resorts provides something unique, from the expansive terrain of Les Arcs to the glitz of Courchevel. But you may prefer the laid-back atmosphere of La Rosière or the classic elegance of Megève. If you’re looking to take your skiing skills to the next level, all while indulging in some of the finest luxury experiences in the Alps, these French ski resorts should be on your shortlist.
But if you need more information before you choose, contact our travel experts. We can give you the best advice to ensure the perfect winter holiday in the French Alps. If you’re ready, book through our online system to reserve your place before someone else does.
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